Japanese PM Arrives in Pyongyang for Historic Visit

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, September 17, 2002

Japanese PM Arrives in Pyongyang for Historic Visit

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Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi arrived n Pyongyang Tuesday morning for a one-day visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to discuss issues hindering normalization of relations between the two countries.

Arriving on a B-747 government plane at Pyongyang InternationalAirport at 9:06 a.m., Koizumi was greeted by Supreme People's Assembly Presidium Chairman Kim Yong Nam and other DPRK officials and then immediately headed to the summit venue.

Koizumi is scheduled to meet with DPRK leader Kim Jong Il to discuss matters concerning Japan's past colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, the issue of missing Japanese nationals as well as security, according to Japanese officials.

This is the first visit to the DPRK by a Japanese prime minister and Koizumi's talks with Kim will also be the first summit between the leaders of the two countries, which, so far, have had no diplomatic ties.

Before boarding his plane for the trip, Koizumi said Japan willnot agree to resume normalization talks with the DPRK without progress on the issue of missing Japanese nationals.

The talks have been suspended since October 2000.

"I think they know (the normalization talks) will not move forward unless they will clearly show (progress)," he said.

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